The Navy’s Getting a Big, Secretive Special Operations ‘Mothership’ — War is Boring — MediumMSC is adding a bunch of new hardware to Cragside to allow the vessel to function as a floating base for up to 200 troops and their weapons plus small boats, helicopters and the aforementioned jet skis, which the Navy and Air Force have begun buying and which Navy SEALs could use to sneak along enemy coastlines.
Cragside should be able to sail 8,000 miles at a time at speeds up to 20 knots and in 20-foot seas, needing resupply only every 45 days. The shipyard is adding a highly-secure communications room, a gym and weapons lockers. After all, you can’t house all those Army Delta Force troopers and SEALs without ample weapons lockers and gyms.
The sleek, capacious ship—already fitted with a rear ramp for loading vehicles—is also getting a flight deck big enough for the largest, heaviest U.S. military helicopter, the Navy’s MH-53E. Cragside will also be able to support Army Apache gunships, Navy patrol helicopters, Special Operations Command Little Bird attack copters and even Marine and Air Force V-22 tiltrotors.
Cragside’s hangar must be big enough to hold two Navy helicopters at the same time for maintenance—and has to have the special, subtle lighting that allows crews to use night-vision goggles.
I wonder if they'll turn off the AIS transponder.
 |
| M/V Cragside |
| Last known position: | ||
| 51°54’28.08” N, 4°21’44.35” E | ||
| Status: | Moored | |
| Speed, course (heading): | ||
| 0kts, 155° (155°) | ||
| Destination: | ||
| Location: | Rotterdam;immingham | |
| Arrival: | 21st Dec 2013 07:00:42 UTC | |
| Last update: | ||
| 1 month 29 days ago | ||
| Source: | AIS (AirNav ShipTrax) | |
Military Sealift Command to charter Maersk ship for ‘maritime support’ | Longshore & Shipping News
Military Sealift Command (MSC) has awarded a contract to Maersk Line Ltd. in Norfolk, Va., to charter a ship to function as a “maritime support vessel.” The $73 million contract, with options for four 12-month options for a potential total value of $143 million, calls for a U.S.-flag, twin-shaft vessel for use into November 2014, and potentially through October 2018. The ship is MV Cragside, said Jim Marconi, a spokesman for MSC, though he added, “We can’t provide details relating to the ship’s mission.” Cragside has an overall length of 633 feet, a beam of 85.3 feet and a displacement of 20,650 long tons.
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MLL provides personnel, operational and technical support for seven special mission vessels deployed to the Far East region of operations. These vessels have been supporting mission sponsors since 1984 and are valuable assets to the U.S. Department of Defense. Our highly-skilled mariners execute navigation, deck, engineering, galley and auxiliary services. The span of the services include managing maintenance and overhaul subcontracts, repair parts, equipment, services, regulatory inspections, husbanding agents and port costs, fuel, training, utility services and transportation. Many special mission vessels have been de-activated, stored and then re-activated under MLL’s supervision and management.
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